Cooktop device and method for operating a cooktop device

Abstract

A cooktop device includes a set of first heating units, a set of second heating units, a set of intermediate heating units arranged spatially between the set of first heating units and the set of second heating units, a set of first inverters designed to operate the set of first heating units and the set of intermediate heating units, and a set of second inverters designed to operate the set of second heating units and the set of intermediate heating units.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A cooktop device, comprising:
 a set of first heating units;   a set of second heating units;   a set of intermediate heating units arranged spatially between the set of first heating units and the set of second heating units;   a set of first inverters designed to operate the set of first heating units and the set of intermediate heating units; and   a set of second inverters designed to operate the set of second heating units and the set of intermediate heating units.   
     
     
         16 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , constructed in a form of an induction cooktop device. 
     
     
         17 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the first, second and intermediate sets of heating units are each designed to operate as separate heating zones. 
     
     
         18 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the first, second and intermediate sets of heating units comprise each at least two heating units which are designed to operate as separate heating zones. 
     
     
         19 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second sets of heating units comprise each at least two heating units which are designed to operate as separate heating zones. 
     
     
         20 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the set of intermediate heating units is designed to operate in combination with the set of first heating units as one heating zone. 
     
     
         21 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the set of intermediate heating units is designed to operate in combination with the set of second heating units as one heating zone. 
     
     
         22 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , wherein the set of intermediate heating units comprises a first intermediate heating unit designed to operate in combination with the set of first heating units as a first heating zone, and a second intermediate heating unit designed to operate in combination with the set of second heating units as a second heating zone. 
     
     
         23 . The cooktop device of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second intermediate heating units of the set of intermediate heating units have an at least substantially elongated geometry. 
     
     
         24 . The cooktop device of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second intermediate heating units of the set of intermediate heating units are arranged parallel to a depth direction of a cooktop with regard to their main extent. 
     
     
         25 . The cooktop device of  claim 22 , wherein the first and second intermediate heating units of the set of intermediate heating units are arranged adjacent to a plurality of first heating units of the set of first heating units and/or adjacent to a plurality of second heating units of the set of second heating units. 
     
     
         26 . The cooktop device of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a set of third heating units; and   a set of further intermediate heating units arranged between the set of second heating units and the set of third heating units.   
     
     
         27 . The cooktop device of  claim 26 , further comprising a set of third inverters, the set of further intermediate heating units designed to be operated by the set of second inverters and the set of third inverters. 
     
     
         28 . The cooktop device of  claim 27 , wherein the set of third heating units is designed to be operated by the set of third inverters. 
     
     
         29 . A cooktop, comprising a cooktop device, said cooktop device comprising a set of first heating units, a set of second heating units, a set of intermediate heating units arranged spatially between the set of first heating units and the set of second heating units, a set of first inverters designed to operate the set of first heating units and the set of intermediate heating units, and a set of second inverters designed to operate the set of second heating units and the set of intermediate heating units. 
     
     
         30 . The cooktop of  claim 29 , constructed in a form of an induction cooktop. 
     
     
         31 . A method for operating a cooktop device which comprises a set of first heating units, a set of second heating units, a set of intermediate heating units arranged spatially between the set of first heating units and the set of second heating units, said method comprising:
 operating the set of first heating units and a set of intermediate heating units by a set of first inverters in an operating state; and   operating the set of second heating units and the set of intermediate heating units by a set of second inverters in the operating state.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  for operating an induction cooktop device. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising operating each of at least the first and second sets of heating units as separate heating zones. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising operating the set of intermediate heating units as one heating zone in combination with the set of first heating units or the set of second heating units.